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News from Day of Solidarity against Shell in Bellinaboy mayo |
rights, freedoms and repression |
news report
 Friday February 16, 2007 07:55 by Joe - WSM
 The march in Bellinaboy is now taking place. Its reported by SMS that 300 are taking part and that the march is being tightly stewarded More SMS and audio updates to follow by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:54  This is a brief audio interview done as protesters left compound, its interrupted as the Gardai start to push into them at the end by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:53 This is from another source. by Indy reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:44 Everyone has left now and a carnival atmosphere has ensued with sound system and music. by Indy reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:30 Everyone walking out linking arms chanting 'peaceful protest' by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:23 Protesters were surrounded by ring of 70 guards who pushed them around but a gap opened and protesters now marching out of the refinery. Work is still halted and an additional coach load of cops has just arrived. by Indymedia Reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:21 A bus load of gardai have arrived and now the crowd of protesters, who are surrounded by police are walking out in a peaceful manner as was intended. by ADMIN - S2S Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:15 Quick audio report by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:13 Your concerns are noted however you might also note the 5 min delay in posting the account of them moving down the pipeline. This was because we waited until they had come into sight of the workers. I'd presume they have mobiles and can therefore also ring the Gardai as they probably did at the sight of 100 odd people charging up the pipeline! by Anon Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:03 A bit more descretion might be advicable when live-feeding to a newswire. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:03 Some people are talking to the workers, its been suggested to them they go on strike for the day (to which they sniggered. A few private security guards present but not intervening. More cops arriving by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:59 In middle of refinery site, 120 protesters present. Three cop cans have arrived, 10 cops are out of van 80m away, 50 to 60 workers standing around, don't seem hostile. Work on whole site has shut down following calls to health and safety authority. by Indymedia Reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:57 Two Garda Vans have now pulled up inside the compound with a full complement of guards. by Indymedia Reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:46 Protesters have put a halt to all work inside Shell site at Bellinaboy! by Indymedia Reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:34 " We've now come off the pipeline route and forcing JCBs back. We expect to march straight through peacefully and then out the gates." by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:32 Lots of photos of pipeline show it to be very corroded, pipe appears very thin. Jeep approaching from behind (this is from a section at the rear of protest, that had fallen behind as they had stopped to take photos of the corrosion of the pipe) by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:28 Hiking along route of pipe line, approaching refinery from the rear, Gardai seem unaware of their presence at the time of SMS but they estimate they are now 1km from the site. by mid-west -radio Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:15 Anybody listening to midwest radio news, on the protest? by Indymedia Reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:14 About seventy people have engaged in a breakaway and have crossed bog to enter refinery. There is no evidence of gardai present. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 09:04 Still trying to get people to march away from the refinery, there is some unhappiness with this both from some of those who travelled and some of the locals. Plan is to go to the local community centre for some cups of tea etc. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:53 600 people present, short rally at the gates is concluding, proposed to march away from the site. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:52 My figures are coming from two sources, one of whom is a journalist. They are similar to the figures indyreporter is getting. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:39 Speeches in progress, all is otherwise quiet. Work is continuing on the site itself by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:26 Arriving at refinery, demonstration has grown to 500 plus. At least some workers were snuck onto the site very early this morning, presumably to avoid any attempt to blockade. Gardai at the moment not blocking off entrance to refinery but a line of local stewards are in front of the refinery. Spriits are high and there are some drummers. by Joe Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:06 Good Mayo turnout plus 90 from Dublin, and 50 from Cork, Seceral cars came from Dublin as well as the two buses. Not much sleep overnight by Indy reporter Fri Feb 16, 2007 08:05 600 people have gathered and the march has taken off. by Update Fri Feb 16, 2007 07:43 07:40 |
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Comments (43 of 43)
Jump To Comment: 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1different corduffs - have never supported us.
Anyone able to explain there was a Corduff coach on the refinery site itself? I thought they were in support of the campaign?
Well to be fair, some of us did approach and try to talk to the workers. Understandably though, they were reticent and did not want to speak to us at any length. One chap was asking them if they were aware of levels of lead being used in the pipe. I approached a group of workers myself and asked them about whether they supported shell to sea. They did not respond but one asked me if we were going to prevent work going on at the site. I said I hoped we would, but nothing is certain with these things and it depended on opposition to the project on the ground remaining strong. They seemed bemused, but not scared or intimidated in any way. I would say only about 3 or 4 people spoke to them in any case. I didn't hear anyone verbally abuse them - if anyone did it was a very isolated incidence and not representative. We just walked by them then out through the gates with the garda escort....
I was one of the trespassers today.
"I wonder" seems to be writing fiction based on what Shell's liar-in-chief John Egan said about "abuse and vandalism". During the occupation, protestors did not speak to or shout at the workers. The only interaction was when one protestor tried to take a photo through the door of a prefab and two Shell workers grabbed him and twisted him so that his arm caught in the doorway. His wrist was broken and he was later taken to hospital in Castlebar.
Throughout the occupation, the workers all stood around looking relaxed, slightly mysitified and also looking pleased to have an unscheduled break from work. The protestors didn't really do anything: we just stood around, some people had a picnic, many took photographs and video, and we talked about how we were going to proceed.
There wasn't really anything there to vandalise: there were sections of the Corrib gas pipeline lying around getting rusty. Other than that it was a building site in the early stages of work: no buildings there yet.
Just back from an inspiring and energising protest at the Shell refinery site today. Others will write up more detailed reports,just want to say that the locals were instrumental in the execution and resolution of todays action at the refinery. It also appeared to me that a majority of local activists are supportive of these tactics. They are somewhat confused at the local leadership's position. Nether Gerry Crowley nor Mark Garavan were present today at any time, either at the 'carnival'at 7am or the later occupation.
On one other note that gobshite - Egan I think - Shell's Irish spokesperson accused us of being verbally intimadating and abusive to workers on the site - I can assure all readers that this is an outright lie. The workers were very calm and were not approached in any way except by a few individuals who assured them that our problem was not with them, but with Shell and the Government.
The 'locals' who weren't at the march and the occupation will be annoyed (and ever ignorant) and the locals who were there and arranged it will be glad of the response to their request for support from all.
Its kind of obvious what happened - the bulk of the people (mostly long-term activists) who travelled down to Mayo werent interested in a 12-hour bus return journey for a simple marshalled/stewarded march around the perimeter of the site, and went off and did their own thing outside the action arranged and executed by the bulk of S2S supporters on the day, question is now what will happen with the local community's wishes for just a march and how people going off on their own will be viewed - could go either way: their wish to do their own thing with their own tactics might be respected and welcomed, or else they'll be isolated and not wanted at protests again.
Both Mary Corduff and Mark Garavan immediately distanced/disassociated themselves from the more militant action.
Ireland.com Report Here:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0216/bre...9.htm
Can't answer your question but it appears this action took place after the march organised by the community had finished. So obviously the community as a whole is not responsible for it even though individual locals also took part. This seperation of protests is pretty standard everywhere when tactical differences exist within a struggle, accepting the reality of this is a lot more sensible then creating an atmosphere where those who favour different methods try and undermine each other in public.
That said if the aim is to halt the construction of the refinery then it appears this action achieved this, at least for a few hours. No one was arrested and there only appears to be one minor injury. So there is plenty to be cheerful about.
Same audio file as above but this time stored on indymedia.ie which should make for a faster download.